Places of interest

Within Salobrena there are a number of things to do and see if you become bored lying by the pool. Most noteably there is the ancient Moorish castle which sits atop the large rock on which the first homes in Salobrena were built. There are medeval diners held here on selected dates throughout the summer. Also just outside the town there is a sugar factory which was until recently the last working refinary in Europe.

Closeby there is Almunecar (10 minutes drive) where there is a bird park as well as a recently constructed aquarium and an attractive pedestrian shopping area with lots of small boutiques.

In Nerja (about 15 minutes drive) there are the famous caves which have become one of the most popular attractions in Spain. Within the caves, which provide excellent acoustics, concerts are held in the summer months.

In Tabernas, Almeria (about an hour's drive) on the edge of the only desert in Europe there is a recreation of an "old west" town, Oasys also known as "Mini-Hollywood". This location, now a theme park, was used in about 600 movies, mainly spaghetti-westerns starring Clint Eastwood and other similar actors. There are two othe similar locations close by "Texas Hollywood" and "Western Leone". The list of movies includes "A Fist full of Dollars", "For a Few Dollars More" and "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" as well as in more recent times Indiana Jones.

Granada (45 minutes) which in its own right is a beautiful city and well worth spending some time there, is home to the most visited attraction in Andalucia The Alhambra Palace. If possible it is best to avoid the middle of summer when visiting and make sure you book in advance either online or through various outlets including La Caixa banks.

www.alhambradegranada.org
www.alhambra-tickets.es

Beaches

Within Salobrena there are extensive beaches, some of which even at the peak of the summer are not crowded.

Along the beaches you can hire sun-loungers with umbrellas and when you get hungry or thirsty there is always a beach bar/ restaurant ("chiringuito") close by.

There are also many coves and inlets which can be accessed and are usually deserted.

Along the coast there are many other beaches including the popular but rather crowded Burriana beach in Nerja.

A part of the beach area in Salobrena

Aquatropic

If you want to get away from the beach there is a waterpark in Almunecar called Aquatropic. There are various slides and other activities to keep kids both big and small happy for the day. During the summer at night the park turns into a popular nightclub (Aqua Noche) - but do not arrive before midnight as it will still be empty. www.aqua-tropic.com

Things to do

Skiing

Probably one of the more common reasons clients find this area to be interesting is the proximity of good ski runs in the Sierra Nevada. The lifts are open from the beginning of December until April. To get to the resort takes about one hour from the coast and on a typical working weekday the slopes can often be almost deserted. www.sierranevadaski.com

Walking

Salobrena is surrounded by areas where interesting walks can be found. The level of difficulty can be from easy to strenuous. Some of the best walks can be found in the Alpujarras but be warned that due to their height and proximity to the Sierra Nevada in the winter there is often snow in that area and we would suggest spring and autumn is best for the more strenuous walks which are to be found in these hillsides

Mountain biking

As well as walking there is also the possibility to go mountain biking along many routes which wind around the hillsides here and even in the Sierra Nevada during the summer.

Golf

The nearest golf course is Los Mariscos which is only a five minute drive from many of the villas we have for sale. This 18 hole course is located next to the beach and has views of the Sierra Nevada. www.moriscosgolf.com

Tennis

On the hillside of Monte de los Almendros where many of the villas featured on this website can be found there is a tennis court which is for the use of anyone staying in this exclusive residential area and is ideal for the casual player.

within Salobrena there is a sport club which has several courts (as well as other facilities) and in Nerja (about 15 minutes by car) there is a popular tennis club for players who take this sport more seriously.

Sailing

There are two marinas close by. Despite the ideal weather for sailing here you will find that there are very few people sailing at any time of the year. If you wish you can charter a boat for a day.

Marina del Este is a well regarded marina (albeit now over-built in the opinion of many who have known it for some years) which caters to private craft. Our understanding is that there is a waiting list much of the time to obtain permanent berths in this location.

Motril has an expanding commercial port with mooring facilities. Most boats here belong to the fisherman who work off the coast and other larger commercial vessels. With increasing frequency cruise ships dock here and there have been reports (from Motril town hall) of a new ferry service with northern Africa being established in the near future (but this may be one of those things which never does become reality!)

There is a third marina which is easily reachable in Almeria which also has good facilities and is less expensive than Marina del Este.

There are plans to build a marina for private craft (about 400) in Salobrena. Please see the information on the page Why Salobrena?

Horse riding

Paragliding

Fishing

Paintball

Quad bikes and 4x4 safari

Fiestas

Spain is famous for its fiestas on which entire books are written. Throughout the year there are a number events and fiestas which the locals enthusiastically participate in. The main ones are:

Easter week - considered to be among the most important of Spain's festivals and much preparation goes into "Semana Santa". Large groups (upto about 80) of robed men carry huge religious sculptures through the main streets of the town which are lined with spectators. These heavy and ornate icons move slowly pace by pace wobbling from one rest point (usually a bar!) to the next. The wobbling becomes more exaggerated as the night goes on. The celebrations in Granada and neighbouring Amunecar are particularly well regarded.

Nazari festival (a weekend at the end of April) - a Morrocan style market is set up below the castle.

San Juan June 20th until 24th celebrating the summer solstice. There are large bonfires lit along the beaches and there are fireworks and people go in the sea at midnight and make a wish.

Asuncion de la Virgin - August 15th More fireworks and celebration as a flotilla of assorted boats makes its way carrying a statute of the Virgin along the coast from La Caleta to Salobrena, passing around the peñon.

Festival of Nuestra Señora del Rosario - 8th October. Salobrena celebrates the local Saint's day with processions along the beach and usually some form of concert.

This is just a small selection of events to be aware of, in addition the local neighbouring towns also have their own Saint days and there are ferias (local fairs) in the towns on various dates throughout the summer.